The band was formed as part of the Girl Effect programme to empower women and girls.

The five-piece pop group Yegna was formed as part of the Girl Effect programme and officials had previously praised the impact the project was having.

But International Development Secretary Priti Patel was challenged about a reported £5.2 million grant to Yegna when she appeared before MPs in December and indicated that the programme was under review, the Press Association reported.

PA/PA WireInternational Development Secretary Priti Patel

DfID has now confirmed that the partnership with Girl Effect had ended.

A DfID spokeswoman said: “We have taken the decision to end our partnership with Girl Effect following a review of the programme.

“Empowering women and girls around the world remains a priority, but we judge there are more effective ways to invest UK aid and to deliver even better results for the world’s poorest and value for taxpayers’ money.”

Yegna is billed as a “multi-platform culture brand inspiring positive behaviour change for girls in Ethiopia”.

Girl Effect said in 2015, 3.3 million people in Ethiopia listened to or watched a Yegna drama, talk show or film and the project had involved huge concerts, film screenings, thousands of listening groups and resulted in number one hits.

A statement on the Girl Effect website said: “As the UK’s Department of International Development today advised us of the conclusion of its work with Girl Effect, we would like to highlight the impact of Yegna on millions of people in Ethiopia and the new knowledge we have gained through our work together.”

It added: “Yegna is only one example of Girl Effect’s work, and the change we are unleashing across all corners of the globe. In four short years we have achieved irreversible momentum. Change that has begun in this generation will continue into the next, and all generations to come.

“New ideas are often resisted and sometimes wilfully misrepresented. Our work continues with the confidence we gain from the feedback of girls and their communities on the ground.”

UK taxpayers' money will no longer be used to fund Ethiopian girl band, Yegna. They were reportedly promised £5.2m to develop a radio drama pic.twitter.com/QU01ZaWYXA

Farah Ramzan Golant, Girl Effect’s chief executive, said: “We and our supporters across media, technology and business believe in the power of innovative, unconventional and efficient solutions to combating poverty at scale.

“Yegna is a pioneering example of this. Now more than ever we are committed to leveraging this expertise to grow the impact of Yegna and all our programmes around the world.”

Yegna, which aims to enhance the role of women through music and performance, was reportedly using some of the £5.2 million grant money to develop a radio drama.

The money was part of £16 million awarded to the Girl Hub project, which was rebranded as Girl Effect, according to a Daily Mail investigation.

“We are doing a range of work there. That is just one programme, one project. It is actually doing substantial work combating the issues that I’ve highlighted. But at the same time all programmes are under review.”